Govt releases council referendum wording

LOCAL Government Minister Anthony Albanese believes voters will back a 17-word change to the Constitution recognising local councils for the first time.

AAPMay 16, 20136:21pm

VOTERS will be asked to approve a 17-word change to the Constitution to recognise local government for the first time.

The proposed change, which will go to a vote on election day, September 14, will change section 96 of the Constitution, the federal government said on Thursday.

The section will read: "Financial assistance to states and local government bodies. During a period of ten years and after the establishment of the commonwealth and thereafter until the parliament otherwise provides, the parliament may grant financial assistance to any state, or to any local government body formed by a law of a state."

Local Government Minister Anthony Albanese said he was confident the referendum would pass, given the positive indications he had received from the federal opposition, the states and local government leaders.

"We've gone out of our way to get the broadest possible support," Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.

"The concerns have been taken on board. This is no diminution of the power of states.

"This is simply a recognition of the existing reality ... there is a relationship between the national government and local government."

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said most Australians would be amazed there was no mention of local government in the Constitution, given their vital role in communities.

He said it would not change the flow of funding and was not about future-proofing the government against High Court challenges.

Mr Albanese said opposition local government spokesman Barnaby Joyce had agreed to do some joint appearances to promote the "yes" case.

The government will spend $10.5 million on a national civic education program which will promote the yes and no cases.

Community feedback on the wording is now open and the legislation is due to come to parliament in a fortnight.

Mr Albanese later dismissed suggestions that four months was not enough time to drum up support for council recognition.

"Well how long do you think people might want to talk about this?" Mr Albanese asked, when appearing on Sky News.

"We don't want to bore the Australian electorate to death with something that is essentially housekeeping."